Half FIG half grape. These are not seasonal fruits but it is on the other hand the feeling gathered at the end of January from consumers on their purchasing power, met at the Neudorf market in Strasbourg. A neighborhood where families, young couples, workers, students and retirees meet.
On this freezing morning, the aisles of the covered market are a bit sparse. No long queues in front of the stalls of greengrocers, market gardeners and small producers who, on the whole, have time to stock their stalls. But are the shopping bags well stocked? Marilyne, mother of three children, sighs. “By dint of adding a few euros here and there, it starts to get expensive. I pay more attention, we reduce, we take more apples and less other fruits. »
In the aisles, there are “much fewer people than before, recognizes Eliane, a market gardener. This is still the case in January, but still not like this. » « There is no more basket at 50 euros. People come and stagger their shopping, with sales at 15 euros. It’s psychologically less difficult to spend in stages,” says the shopkeeper. For Robert, an unemployed forty-something, used to the market, “everything” is more and more expensive. It now swings between “choose to drive, eat well or keep warm”.
Products that “come from afar” more expensive
A feeling tempered by Jérôme, one of the primeurs on the market, a sector he knows well having taken over his father’s business since the year 2000. Busy restocking his stand, he claims not to have really noticed a drop in customers even if he easily recognizes that there have indeed been “increases” lately, but for “certain products, those that generally come from far away. Sometimes almost 50% as for courgettes, aubergines”. An increase in prices which would be explained by that of the cost of transport, as confirmed by other futures. “This mainly concerns fruit,” says Eliane. Oranges have gone from 2.90 last year to 3.20 euros now. Some vegetables such as Chinese cabbage went from 2.80 euros each to 3.50. »
Robert, 70, has noticed increases, but not to the point of limiting his purchases even if he considers that a salad at 1.50 euros is a bit too much. “I don’t remember buying a lettuce for 10 francs! And it is not the presidential campaign that seems able to change things. “Purchasing power, we talk about it. We hear: “we have a plan, we are thinking about it, we are going…” Above all, we have the impression, and not only in the last five years but for a long time, that the decision-makers do not really control much”, underlines the retirement. He is waiting for concrete measures.
For Christine, another retiree who frequents the aisles of the market, “the rise in prices, of fruits and vegetables, [la] don’t touch too much. I live alone, these are too small quantities, ”she explains. “But it is more difficult for the cost of fuel, fuel oil for heating. It’s not the 100 euros that will solve the situation, it’s wind. »
Nor is it the promises of the presidential campaign that arouse hope, often judged as not very “committed” to the theme of purchasing power. “They talk about it, but there are many other themes that come before that, while people rather need us to improve their living conditions, more essential things like being able to eat well,” sighs Meg, a 21-year-old student. year. She explains “not wanting to buy her fruits and vegetables in supermarkets, where it is more expensive”. Like Robin, she prefers to work with local producers and traders. A 24-year-old student on a work-study program, he preferably buys local products to also avoid increases by trying to favor seasonal products. “Anyway, we don’t go out much anymore, it saves money so we can spend a little more,” explains the young man who leaves with vegetables and fruit in his backpack for around fifteen euros. “What to do the week with my girlfriend,” smiles the student.